No injured cavers recorded.
Summer 1985
On a trip to Soldier's Cave two incidents occurred. First, a four D-cell battery pack became too hot to touch when the new cells leaked and shorted out. Battery fluid got on the caver's clothes and caused a burn. The second was on the ascent of the 70 foot pit when a homemade chest box popped open and in the process, abraded the webbing attached to an ascender completely through. The box was similar to a double Simmons roller - pull a quick release pin and the rollers are free and the slings or rope come out the front. In this case it appears the roller on the webbing side did not fit its slot and the edge of the webbing was able to work into the gap, abrading itself and pushing the pin out. Webbing is not a good item where abrasion is concerned, since it is woven (all strands come to the surface) and loses its strength quickly with abrasion. Better to use static kernmantle.
Carol Veseley "Soldier's Cave: Two close calls on our first grotto trip" Better Caves and Sinkholes [Santa Barbara Underground Grotto] Summer 1985 p 7-8.
Two incidents in Soldier's Cave involved a battery pack overheating and causing a burn, and a homemade chest box failing, resulting in webbing abrasion during ascent.